Fans find it very entertaining to see left-handed players dominate the game. When left-handers excel, it becomes one of the best moments for cricket fans to remember. Whether you discuss Shaheen Afridi’s remarkable T20 World Cup 2021 performance against India or Matthew Hayden finishing as the top run-getter in the 2007 World Cup, these moments provide real cricket lovers great joy. Read on to see the best Left Hand Cricketers and their record-breaking innings.
Many left-handers have entered this wonderful sport’s history and have been successful in putting up outstanding performances with the bat or ball. Many left-handed superstars, such Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sourav Ganguly, Chaminda Vaas, Mitchell Johnson, Wasim Akram, and others, have been able to captivate the audience with their unmatched talents. It’s appropriate to review some of the records held by the left-handed sports legends on International Lefthanders Day (August 13).
Left-Hand Cricketers innings:
3. Adam Gilchrist:
Adam Gilchrist was the best batter of his era, and Australia won many games thanks to his superb batting and wicketkeeping skills. In the same vein, Australia continued to play an aggressive form of cricket during the 2007 ODI World Cup, emulating their incredible run during the 2003 World Cup, and they qualified for the final by going unbeaten throughout the tournament.
With the exception of Gilchrist’s form, Australia’s performance in the competition was flawless. It’s interesting to note that Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting maintained his confidence in the wicketkeeper batter and chose to start him in the starting XI for the grand final match at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
During the summit match, Gilchrist pounded the Sri Lankan bowlers hard and scored a fantastic 149 runs with his bat. The veteran’s outstanding innings helped the Australians score 281 runs in just 38 overs during the rain-affected encounter.
As a result, Australia defeated Sri Lanka using the DLS (Duckworth-Lewis) method by 53 runs, winning the world championship for a record-tying fourth time. Gilchrist won Player of the Match for his batting performance. It’s important to note that Adam Gilchrist’s performance against Sri Lanka set a record for the highest individual score in ODI World Cup finals history.
2. Yuvraj Singh
From 2007 to 2011, Yuvraj Singh’s contribution was crucial to India’s success in international cricket. He gained Player of the Series honours in the 2011 World Cup for his outstanding all-around skills on the biggest platform, and in the final rounds of the 2007 T20 World Cup, he made India the victor.
India and England faced off in Durban during the first T20 World Cup. For both teams, this was a game that would either make or break their chances of progressing further in the tournament. India, which had won the toss and decided to bat first, got off to a strong start thanks to openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. India’s scoring pace after Robin Utthappa’s dismissal appeared to be much below a respectable total given the condition of the wicket. Yuvraj then entered the fray at number five and contributed to India’s mammoth 218-run total.
After Andrew Flintoff attempted to start a verbal battle with the Southpaw in order to disrupt his rhythm, the Southpaw ended up making a remarkable play in the game’s 19th over. Flintoff’s nightmare was realised as Yuvraj smashed six sixes in Stuart Broad’s over, becoming the first player in T20I history to do so.
Yuvraj reached his half-century in just 12 balls thanks to these maximums, becoming the player to reach fifty in the quickest time possible in a T20I match. His incredible blitzkrieg cost England the game by a whopping 18 runs. Yuvraj Singh won Player of the Match as a result of this.
1. Brian Lara
The West Indies’ most productive batter in Test cricket is Brian Lara. In red-ball cricket, his technique and temperament were key factors in his success. When England visited the West Indies in 2004, they were humiliated in the four-match Test series, dropping three straight games. In the four-match series, the West Indies captain Lara’s batting performance in game four was the sole positive development.
In the last Test in Antigua, the home team was competing for the honour. Brian Lara, the captain of the home team, won the toss and opted to bat first. Lara came to the crease and batted for more than two days, scoring a historic unbeaten 400 after losing an early wicket in the form of Darren Ganga. West Indies consequently added to England’s misery by scoring a staggering 751 runs.
Despite the fact that the Test match ended in a draw, Lara was named Player of the Match for his historically significant knock. In the longest version of the game, no batter has yet succeeded in breaking the southpaw’s record of the 400-run knock while donning a white jersey.
So, this was all about the top Left Hand Cricketers and their record-breaking innings. Also read, ODI World Cup 2023: Top 5 batsmen that may bat at number 4.
